Fawcett and its CWI partners are are working with each of the main three parties to help them to increase women’s presence and voice within their parties. We will continue to work with them and to highlight ways that they can take action to increase women’s representation.

The Counting Women In coalition also produces an annual audit of women’s representation across public life. It collects all of the evidence to show how women are faring in powerful positions across public life. Our latest report, Sex and Power 2013, presents a damning picture of women’s access to power and urges parties to take action to redress this inequalit – download it to the right of this page.

Long way to go!- our verdict on the gender ratio of candidates standing in Devon County Council's elections.

Women make up over 50% of the population in Devon. All things being equal, mightn't you expect a fairly 50/50 gender split amongst the 300+ cendidates willing to stand for election to one or another of Devon's 62 County wards next month?

You would be wrong. Men dominate our local political scene. And they don't appear very willing to change. Four years ago (below) the ratios looked like this -

2009

Con

Green

Lab

Lib Dem

UKIP

female

12

18

23

18

6

male

50

24

33

44

27

ratio

4.17

1.33

1.43

2.44

4.50

UKIP had the worst ratio. Their men candidates far outnumbered their women candidates. The Conservative Party ratio was also very poor. Their women candidates were outnumbered by their men one to four. Best were the Green Party - getting close to parity.

This year's County election, on the 2nd May, has over 40 more candidates in total than stood in 2009.

It also has more diversity of political 'platform' - for instance -

4 candidates are standing as Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts (all men)

1 candidate is standing as Your Decision To Keep The Lights On (a man), and

1 candidate is standing on no stated platform at all -(a woman in Fremington Rural Ward)

So does the 2013 table below show any improvement?

2013

Con

Green

Lab

Lib Dem

UKIP

female

14

18

28

14

9

male

48

30

31

43

52

ratio

3.43

1.67

1.11

3.07

5.78

UKIP keep their wooden spoon. Even though 3 more women are standing for UKIP, that Party's gender ratio has become even worse because of so many additional men candidates.. The Liberal Democrat Party and the Green Party have slippedbackwards. The Conservative Party and Labour Party have inched slightly forwards.

This forwards movement takes the Labour Party closest to parity this time.

So... the Green Partyfour years ago; the Labour Party this year.... we ask two questions. Firstly, if one party can manage it why can't the others? And secondly, once your party has managed near-parity, why allow it to slip so far back?

Ceri Goddard, the Fawcett Society's Chief Executive has been quoted in the Guardian as saying "There is a lot of evidence that even when there is national-level commitment to change, local associations won't necessarily toe the line," … "Asserting local association autonomy from the national leadership can act as convenient cloak to deeply entrenched, if not publicly expressed, sexism."Political Party Selection Panels Are Anti-Women

Clearly, progress is not incremental.Time on its own will not work some magic solution.

If Devon people are ever going to see a County Council that looks representative of its electorate we need far more women to stand in this year's County Council elections. 2nd May.And the parties must put women candidates in potentially winnable seats.

We call on women of all ages, ethnic minorities, with or without disabilitites, lesbian or straight - have confidence in your abilities. Stand for election. If no political party attracts you, then you can stand as an independent

Is it any wonder that women still are reluctant to come forward for public office. In Britain we had the 'calm down dear' approach to former cabinet ministers who happen to be women by our own Prime Minister David Cameron . Is there any wonder that women are still underrepresented in the 'mother' of all parliaments. This week on BBC Radio 4 the Book of the week is a biography of Nancy Astor who was abused in a similar vein and frozen out by her colleagues in the Commons. OK so that was the 1920s-30s. So it has really changed then? No sadly not- the Prime Minister of Australia Julia Guillard is testament to this.

Anyone who hasn't yet had the pleasure of listening to, and watching, Julia Gillard detail the sexist and misogynist attitudes and behaviour of the Opposition.Go to YouTube - and see for yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfo3SGIiSE0

Exeter City Council has listened and responded to Fawcett Devon’s Concerns about Sexual Entertainment Venues in Exeter City Council.

We are grateful that the council listened to our deep concerns about lap dancing clubs a.k.a. sex entertainment venues or SEVs. Exeter City Council’s Labour groups decision to go out to consult on a Nil policy for SEVs in the new year is greatly welcomed by Fawcett Devon. In response we called off our campaign to demonstrate at the last council meeting at the Civic Centre Exeter.

Councillor Greg Sheldon, Lead Councillor for Environment and Leisure, said: "This is a really important policy and I think it is right that local people should be given the chance to have their say on the operation of lap dancing clubs and similar venues in the city."

The intention is to start the consultation in January 2013, with a view to completing it before County Council elections in May 2013.

Fawcett Devon opposes sex entertainment venues. They are part of the sex industry that normalises the objectification of women, commodifying female genitals and breasts for casual purchase.

We believe most people in Exeter don't want to live in the sort of culture that fails to recognise sexual predation, disregards the normalisation of porn attitudes towards women and sees no harm in the commodification of women's bodies.

We hope to help the City Council with its consultation Fawcett Devon has established links with local and national leaders in this field and we would be happy to facilitate a city wide discussion on this issue.

We will be contacting all Fawcett supporters and keeping you informed about the consultation.